Oklahoma Applied Research Support (OARS)

The Oklahoma Applied Research Support program helps universities, foundations and businesses fund cutting-edge research that will benefit Oklahoma’s economy.

Also known as OARS, the program accelerates the development of technology with a potential for producing a commercially successful product, process or service. Through OARS, OCAST provides incentive funding to applied research projects. The funding is structured to increase industrial R&D investment and reward collaborative efforts when combining the resources of two or more organizations helps a project’s commercial viability. State incentive funding helps recipients leverage the capital required to develop and market a technology.

Competitively awarded reimbursement contracts are to Oklahoma businesses, universities and non-profit research organizations for one- to three-year R&D projects. A minimum of one-dollar matching support is required for each state dollar awarded; no indirect costs are allowed. Continued funding is contingent on satisfactory annual performance evaluations and availability of funds.

External reviewers with technical and market expertise, a majority of which resides outside Oklahoma, evaluate the proposals for technical merit, potential economic impact and commitment of the participating organization(s). Written reviewer comments are provided to applicants for use in revision of proposals for resubmission to OCAST or other funding organizations. Reviewers also conduct annual performance evaluations of funded projects. The OARS committee selects all reviewers.